Nintedanib Induces the Autophagy-Dependent Death of Gastric Cancer Cells by Inhibiting the STAT3/Beclin1 Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are currently the most widely studied targeted therapies for gastric cancer. As a triple tyrosine inhibitor, nintedanib can alleviate the progression of a variety of cancers, but it is poorly studied in gastric cancer. AIMS: To investigate the effect of nintedanib on gastric cancer. METHODS: This study investigated nintedanib's effect on gastric cancer autophagy in vivo and in vitro, and the activity and morphological changes of gastric cancer cells were detected by MTT and HE staining. Proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT-related marker proteins of AGS and MKN-28 cells were detected. The effects of nintedanib on autophagy in gastric cancer cells were detected by acridine orange, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting assays. The regulation of nintedanib on STAT3 and Beclin1 was detected by qPCR and Western blotting assays. Subsequently, the effects of nintedanib on the tumor STAT3/Beclin1 pathway were verified by stably overexpressing STAT3 in gastric cancer cell lines and tumor-bearing experiments in nude mice. RESULTS: The results showed that nintedanib could inhibit gastric cancer cells' proliferation and EMT process. Meanwhile, autophagy was induced in AGS and MKN-28 cells, and the expression of autophagy-related protein Beclin1 was upregulated, and the phosphorylation level of STAT3 was downregulated. Nintedanib inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and upregulated Beclin1 to inhibit tumor growth in gastric cancer cell lines with stable STAT3 overexpression and tumor-bearing experiments in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: By inhibiting STAT3, nintedanib upregulated Beclin1 and caused autophagic death in gastric cancer cells.

[Composition and fractal features of soil micro-aggregates in microsites of different types of treefall gaps]. / ä¸åŒæž—åž‹æ ‘å€’æž—éš™å† å¾®ç«‹åœ°ç±»åž‹çš„åœŸå£¤å¾®å›¢èšä½“ç»„æˆåŠå ¶åˆ†å½¢ç‰¹å¾.

Through field survey and laboratory analysis, we examined the composition and fractal features of soil micro-aggregates in different types of treefall gaps and microsites (pit bottom and mound top) in broad-leaved Korean pine forest and spruce-fir-Korean pine forest. Results showed that the contents of soil microaggregates under the classes of 0.25-2 mm and 0.05-0.25 mm were higher in both forest types, ranging from 25.7% to 50.7% and from 27.0% to 42.8%, respectively, and that of <0.002 mm was the lowest, ranging from 4.4% to 8.9%. In the pit bottom and mound top of gaps, soil bulk density was higher in both forest types. Soil nutrient content in mound top was higher than that in pit bottom and was higher in broad-leaved Korean pine forest than spruce-fir-Korean pine forest. Soil microaggregates of <0.002 mm had no correlation with soil physical and chemical properties, whereas that of 0.25-2 mm and 0.002-0.02 mm had significantly positive and negative correlation with soil non-capillary porosity, total porosity, aeration porosity, organic matter, total phosphorus, total nitrogen and organic carbon, respectively. On the whole, soil fractal dimension (D) and the proportion of characteristic soil micro-aggregates (PCM) in broad-leaved Korean pine forest were larger than those in spruce-fir-Korean pine forest, and the ratio of soil microaggregates diameter (RMD) in mound top and pit bottom was increased in two forest types. Soil D and PCM had no significant correlation with soil physical and chemical properties, while RMD was negatively correlated with capillary porosity, total porosity, soil bulk density and aeration porosity. In two forest types, the formation of mound and pit microsites could decrease the larger size micro-aggregates and the stability of soil micro-aggregate, increase soil D and PCM, and signifi-cantly increase RMD. RMD could be used as a quantitative index of soil physical and chemical properties in pit and mound microsites of forest.

Effects of decay level of fallen trees and their formed microsite types on soil physicochemical properties in a spruce-fir forest.

To reveal the effects of decay level of fallen trees and their formed microsite types on soil physicochemical properties, the differences in soil physicochemical properties (bulk density, capillary porosity, total porosity, capillary water holding capacity, saturated moisture capacity, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, available phosphorous, available potassium, and pH) and stoichiometry (C/N, N/P, and C/P) among different decay levels of treefalls and between different microsite types in the formed gaps by fallen trees were analyzed in a spruce-fir fore-st in a valley of Liangshui National Nature Reserve in Xiaoxing' an Mountains. The results showed that the effects of the decay levels of fallen trees on soil physical properties was not significant. In contrast, we found significant effects of the formed microsite types in soil physical properties. Except for saturated soil water holding capacity, the other soil physical properties were the best under the fallen trees and the worst in the pit bottom. Except of available phosphorus, the contents of the other soil nutrients exhibited a significant increase trend with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees. Among three microsites, the contents of soil nutrients were the lowest and pH were highest in the pit. As for the shallow soil layer, C/N, N/P and C/P of three microsites decreased with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees, while C/N in mound top and in pit bottom increased, N/P and C/P decreased, and the variation of C/P was consistent with that of available phosphorus. In conclusion, with the increasing decay levels of fallen trees, the contents of soil nutrients were signifi-cantly increased. There are significant differences of soil nutrients among different microsites, with the lowest values in the pit.

[Characteristics of main layer and regeneration layer of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations at different ages on the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert, Northwest China]. / å¤å°”ç­é€šå¤ç‰¹æ²™æ¼ å—ç¼˜ä¸åŒæž—é¾„äººå·¥æ¢­æ¢­æž—ä¸»æž—å±‚å’Œæ›´æ–°å±‚ç‰¹å¾.

The population structure characteristics, natural regeneration, and the influential factors of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations at six different stand ages on the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert were studied. The results showed that H. ammodendron plantation at the stand age of 7 could naturally regenerate. At the stand age of 17, the densities of the seedlings (＜30 cm height), saplings (30≤H＜50 height), and small trees (≥50 cm height) reached optimal class, and the mean height and base diameter of the small tress reached 1.10 m and 1.91 cm, respectively. The parent trees in H. ammodendron plantation at the stand age of 20 grew best. The height of 35% individuals grew up to 2.50-3.00 m, and the basal stem diameter of 23.1% individuals grew up to 8.00-10.00 cm. The height and diameter growth of the parent trees in H. ammodendron plantation at the stand age of 33 apparently declined, but the regeneration ability by natural seed dispersal was still strong. The regeneration density of natural seed dispersal showed the greatest correlation with the available nitrogen content in 0-100 cm soil layer (0.87), followed by the soil rapidly available phosphorus content (0.84) and the soil water content (0.79). The soils with pH 8.1-8.6 did not limit the nutrient growth of the regeneration layer. In the main stand layer, the individual density of whole regeneration layer showed the greatest correlation with the biomass of the parent trees (0.77), while the density of regeneration layer of the small trees showed the greatest correlation with the planting density (0.71) and the age of the parent trees (0.70).

Jatrorrhizine Protects Against Okadaic Acid Induced Oxidative Toxicity Through Inhibiting the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Pathways in HT22 Hippocampal Neurons.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by deposit of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles and oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of AD. Jatrorrhizine (JAT), a Coptidis Rhizome, has multiple biological functions such as anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation. Herein, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of JAT on okadaic acid (OA)- induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in HT22 cells. Following the exposure to 80 nmol/L OA for 12h, the reduction in cell survival, activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and mitochondria membrane potential has been shown in HT22 cells. In contrast, OA increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde production and intracellular reactive oxygen species. OA also enhanced the expression of Bax but decreased the levels of Bcl-2, OA also upregulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2, phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinases, phosphorylated p38 and NF-kappa B p65 subunit in HT22 cells and this up-regulation was attenuated by JAT which was pre-incubated for 12h in the cells prior to OA exposure. In conclusion, our data present the protective role of JAT in OA induced cytotoxicity, via its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways in HT22 hippocampal neurons. These results indicate that JAT may be the potential target to treat AD induced by oxidative stress and apoptosis.

[Spatial distribution pattern of main populations and gap makers in Picea koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis forest of Xiaoxing' an Mountains, Northeast China].

Species composition and diameter class structure were investigated in 1.5 hm2 (100 m x 150 n) permanent plot in Picea koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis forest of Xiaoxing' an Mountains. The spatial distribution pattern and spatial association of main populations and gap makers were analyzed by using point pattern analysis. The results showed that there were a total of 13 species with diameters at breast height greater than 2 cm in tree layer, and great differences were observed in the densities of main populations. The importance values of A. nephrolepis, P. koraiensis, Betula platyphylla and Acer ukurunduense were ranked in the first 4 in the plot. The diameter class structure of their populations presented an inverse 'J' curve. The spatial distribution patterns for A. nephrolepis and P. koraiensis were similar, which changed from aggregated, random to uniform distribution with the spatial scale. For B. platyphylla, the distribution was aggregated at ≤40 m scale, and random at >40 m scale, whereas A. ukurunduense presented an aggregated distribution pattern at the whole research scale. Except that the negative correlation between B. platyphylla and A. ukurunduense existed at the whole research scale, positive correlation between the other populations at small scale and negative correlation at large scale were observed. Only A. nephrolepis and B. platyphylla had significant positive correlation, and generally no significant correlation existed between other populations. Spatial distribution pattern of gap makers was characterized as aggregated distribution at small and middle scales, and random distribution with increasing scale. Spatial point pattern of gap makers formed by uprooting exhibited unimodal type distribution, and random, aggregated, and uniform distribution also occurred. Spatial point pattern of gap makers formed by breaking overall presented a little fluctuation, random and aggregated distributions alternatively appeared at small scale, and random distribution happened at large scale. Their spatial correlation analysis indicated that significant positive correlation existed at ≤32 m scale, and non-significant negative correlation at >32 m scale.

[Microclimate dynamics of pit and mound complex within different sizes of forest gaps in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest].

An investigation was conducted in a 2.25 hm2 plot of Pinus koraiensis-dominated broad-leaved mixed forest to study basic characteristics of 7 small gaps, 5 middle gaps, 3 large gaps and 7 closed stands within 38 pit and mound complexes caused by treefall in May 2012. From June to September 2012, the soil temperature, soil water content and relative humidity at five microsites (pit bottom, pit wall, mound top, mound face and undisturbed closed stands) were measured in six sunny days each month. The results showed that among the five microsites in every month, the mound top had the highest soil temperature and the lowest water content and relative humidity, and vice versa for the pit bottom. Mostly, the differences in the above indicators among the five microsites were significant. From June to September, the mean soil temperatures for all microsites at pit and mound complex in the various gaps and closed stands were in the order of large gap>middle gap >small gap>closed stand; but the soil water content ranked differently every month. In June, August and September, the mean relative humidities for all microsites in the various gaps and closed stands were in the order of closed stand>small gap>middle gap>large gap. Mostly, the differences in the above indicators between all microsites in the various gaps and closed stand were significant. The mean monthly soil temperature and relative humidity were highest in July, but lowest in September. The maximal mean monthly soil water content occurred in July and the minimal one in September for each microsite except the undisturbed closed stands, where the maximal mean monthly soil water content occurred in July. The variation of the microclimate at the pit and mound complex was mainly influenced by gap size, microsite, and time.

[Dimensional characteristics and spatial distribution patterns of pit and mound complexes in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest].

Characteristics of pit and mound complexes in different sizes of forest gaps and closed stands and their distribution patterns were compared and analyzed. The results showed that mean mound width, mound height, mound thickness of all pit and mound complexes were larger than corresponding mean pit length, pit width, pit depth in large, medium and small gaps as well as in closed stands. Mound width, mound height, mound thickness, pit length, pit width, pit depth were the largest in large gap, being 2.85, 0.37, 2.00, 2.99, 2.10, 0.39 m, respectively, and the smallest in closed stands, being 2.35, 0.19, 1.60, 2.66, 1.65, 0.21, respectively. Mean mound volume (1.66 m3) was larger than mean pit volume (1.44 m3). The difference in characteristic values between the most of pit and mound complexes was significant for the same size of forest gap, not significant for closed stands, significant for different sizes of forest gaps and closed stands. Most of characteristic values for pit and mound complexes within the plot in 2012 were significantly less than those in 2011. 89.5% and 60.5% of type and shape of pit and mound complexes were hinge and semiellipse, respectively. Their distribution was relatively centralized.

[Effects of forest gap size and light intensity on herbaceous plants in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest].

1 m x 1 m fixed quadrats were parallelly arranged with a space of 2 m in each of six forest gaps in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest, taking the gap center as the starting point and along east-west and south-north directions. In each quadrat, the coverage and abundance of herbaceous plants at different height levels were investigated by estimation method in June and September 2011, and the matrix characteristics within the quadrats were recorded. Canopy analyzer was used to take fish-eye photos in the selected overcast days in each month from June to September, 2011, and the relative light intensity was calculated by using Gap Light Analyzer 2.0 software. The differences in the relative light intensity and herbaceous plants coverage and richness between different gaps as well as the correlations between the coverage of each species and the direct light, diffuse light, and matrix were analyzed. The results showed that in opening areas and under canopy, the relative light intensity in large gaps was higher than that in small gaps, and the variation ranges of diffuse light and direct light from gap center to gap edge were bigger in large gaps than in small gaps. The direct light reaching at the ground both in large gaps and in small gaps was higher in the north than in the south direction. In the Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 zones, both the coverage and the richness of herbaceous plants were larger in large gaps than in small gaps, and the differences of species richness between large and small gaps reached significant level. The coverage of the majority of the herbaceous plants had significant correlations with diffuse light and matrix, and only the coverage of a few herbaceous plants was correlated with direct light.

[Microsite characteristics of pit and mound and their effects on the vegetation regeneration in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest].

Abstract: An investigation was conducted in a 2.55 hm2 plot of Pinus koraiensis-dominated broad-leaved mixed forest to study the microsite characteristics of pit and mound formed by 42 treefalls and the status of vegetation regeneration on the microsites. The soil water content, soil temperature, relative air humidity, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on five microsites (mound top, mound face, pit wall, pit bottom, and intact forest floor) were measured. Among the five mirosites, mound top had the highest PAR (527.9 micromol.m-2.s-1 ) while intact forest floor had the lowest one (58.7 micromol.m-2.s-), mound top had the highest soil temperature (16.0 degrees C) but pit bottom had the lowest one (13.3 degrees C), pit bottom had the highest soil water content (34.6%) but mound face had the lowest one (0.5%), and intact forest floor had the highest relative air humidity (75.9%) but mound top had the lowest one (68.0%). The frequency of forming pit/ mound complex by the tree species was decreased in the order of Pinus koraiensis (42. 9%) >Picea asperata (31.0%) > Betula platyphylla (16.7%) > Abies fabri (7. 1%) > Prunus padus (2.4%). Among the 42 treefalls, two-thirds of them were in northwest direction. The treefalls volume had significant positive correlations with pit depth, pit length, mound height, and mound width, but negative correlation with mound thickness. The treefall mean diameter at breast height had significant positive correlations with pit width (r=0.328, P=0.017) and pit length (r=0.527, P= 0). The tree species richness at the microsites decreased in the order of intact forest floor > pit > mound, and the tree species coverage was in the sequence of intact forest floor > pit > mound.

[Effects of gap size on the spatial heterogeneity of soil water in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broad-leaved mixed forest].

In August-October 2011, the soil water content (SWC) at different depths in different sized gaps in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broad-leaved mixed forest of Xiaoxing' an Mountains, Northeast China was continuously measured by grid nesting method and time domain reflectometry (TDR), and the spatial heterogeneity of the SWC was analyzed by the principles and approaches of geostatistics. The SWC was most abundant in medium gap, followed by in large gap and in small gap whereas the maximum difference of SWC was the biggest in large gap, followed by in medium gap, and in small gap. The variation range of the nugget of SWC at different depths in the large, medium, and small gaps was 0.001-0.404, 0.001-0.273, and 0.001-0.261, respectively. The SWC heterogeneity resulted from random part and the total system SWC spatial heterogeneity were decreased in the order of large gap > medium gap > small gap. The spatial distribution pattern of SWC was most complicated in medium gap, while the spatial dependence in the variation of the SWC pattern was the strongest in large gap. High-grade patches (SWC was 50%-60%) occupied the largest area in medium gap, followed by in large gap, and there was no high-grade patch in small gap. As for the SWC at same depths and in same months, its grade distribution was most simple in small gap, but relatively complicated in large and medium gaps. The maximum value of SWC increased with increasing gap size.

[Effects of forest gap size and uprooted microsite on the microclimate in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broad-leaved mixed forest].

Three representative forest gaps with pit-mound microsites formed by uprooted trees were selected within the 2.55 hm2 plot in a Pinus koraiensis-dominated broad-leaved mixed forest in Xiao Xing'an Mountains of Northeast China. The cleared land and closed stand were set up as the controls, and the PAR, air temperature and relative humidity in the centers of different size gaps and in mound top as well as the total radiation and precipitation in the gap centers were measured between July and September, 2011 by using multichannel automatic meteorological stations. The differences of the microclimate between the gap centers and mound top in different months were compared, and the monthly and diurnal variations of the microclimatic factors in the gap centers and in the mound top under typical weather conditions were analyzed. The results showed that the mean monthly PAR and air temperature in the three gaps of different sizes were in the order of large gap > medium gap > small gap, and the mean monthly relative humidity was in the order of small gap > medium gap > large gap. For the same size gap, the mean monthly PAR and air temperature were higher in the mound top than in the gap center, whereas the mean monthly relative humidity was higher in the gap center than in the mound top. Both the mean monthly total radiation and the mean monthly air temperature in the forest gaps and in the controls were in the order of July > August > September and of cleared land > large gap > medium gap > small gap > closed stand, while the mean monthly relative humidity was in the order of closed stand > small gap > medium gap > large gap > cleared land. The differences in the mean monthly relative humidity between closed stand and various gaps and between closed stand and cleared land reached significant level. The monthly precipitation from July to September decreased in the order of cleared land > large gap > medium gap > small gap > closed stand. Whether in sunny days or in overcast days, the mean daily PAR and air temperature were higher in mound top than in gap center, and the mean daily relative humidity was in opposite. Whether in mound top or in gap center, the mean daily PAR and air temperature were higher in sunny days than in overcast days, while the mean daily relative humidity was higher in overcast days than in sunny days.

[Effects of forest gap size and within-gap position on the microclimate in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest].

HOBO automatic weather stations were installed in the central parts and at the south, north, east, and west edges of large, medium, and small gaps in a Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest in Xiaoxing' anling Mountains to measure the air temperature, relative humidity, and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in these locations and the total radiation and precipitation in the gap centres from June to September 2010, taking the closed forest stand and open field as the controls. The differences in the microclimate between various size forest gaps and between the gap centers and their edges as well as the variations of the microclimatic factors over time were analyzed, and the effects of sunny and overcast days on the diurnal variations of the microclimatic factors within forest gaps were compared, aimed to offer basic data and practice reference for gap regeneration and sustainable management of Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest. The PPFD was decreased in the order of large gap, medium gap, and small gap. For the same gaps, the PPFD in gap centre was greater than that in gap edge. The mean monthly air temperature and total radiation in gap centres were declined in the sequence of July, June, August, and September, and the amplitudes of the two climatic factors were decreased in the order of open field, large gap, medium gap, small gap, and closed forest stand. The mean monthly relative humidity in gap centres dropped in the order of August, July, September, and June, and the amplitude of this climatic factor was decreased in the sequence of closed forest stand, small gap, medium gap, large gap, and open field. The total and monthly precipitations for the three different size gaps and open field during measurement period generally decreased in the order of open field, large gap, medium gap, small gap, and closed forest stand. In sunny days, the variations of PPFD, air temperature, and relative humidity were greater in large gap than in small gap, but in overcast days, it was in opposite.

[Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil available nitrogen forms and their contents in typical temperate forest stands].

An indoor experiment was conducted to study the effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on the soil available N in typical temperate forest stands. During the experiment period, nitrogen deposition increased the soil NH4+ -N, NO3- -N, and available N contents, as compared with the control, but the increments differed with stand types, soil layers, nitrogen treatment types, and treatment duration. Mixed forest soil had weaker responses in its available N contents to the nitrogen deposition than broad-leaved forest soil but stronger responses than artificially pure coniferous forest soil, and soil A horizon was more sensitive to nitrogen deposition than soil B horizon. Ammonium nitrogen deposition had larger effects on soil NH4+ -N content, nitrate nitrogen deposition had larger effects on soil NO3- -N content, while mixed ammonium and nitrate nitrogen deposition increased the contents of both soil NH4+ -N and soil NO3- -N, and the increments were higher than those of ammonium nitrogen deposition and nitrate nitrogen deposition, suggesting the additive effects of the mixed ammonium and nitrate nitrogen deposition on the forest soil available N.

[Effects of forest gap on tree species regeneration and diversity of mixed broadleaved Korean pine forest in Xiaoxing'an Mountains].

This paper studied the quantitative characteristics of main tree species along a forest gap gradient (gap center-near gap center-gap border) of mixed broadleaved Korean pine forest in Xiaoxing'an Mountains, as well as the effects of forest gap size on the regeneration of the tree species. In forest gap, the density of shrub species was obviously larger than that in non-gap, and the density ratio of the same shrub species in forest gap to in non-gap ranged from 1.08 to 18.15. With the increase of gap size, the regeneration density of tree seedlings increased, and that of sapling I (H > or = 1 m, DBH < or = 2 cm) and sapling II (H > or = 1 m, 2 cm < DBH < or = 5 cm) exhibited multiple peak curve. The overall regeneration density of shrubs in forest gaps varied mainly with the amounts of tree seedlings and sapling I. The mean height, mean basal diameter, species density, and individual density of trees in different locations of forest gaps were all different. From gap center to non-gap, the importance value of tree species seedlings in regeneration layer was ranked in gap center > near gap center > gap border > non-gap, the tree species evenness presented a variation of high-low-high, and the species diversity decreased in the order of early phase gap > mid phase gap > late phase gap.

[Spatiotemporal distribution pattern of photosynthetic photon flux density in forest gaps of Korean pine broadleaved mixed forest].

Taking the forest gaps of natural Pinus koraiensis broadleaved mixed forest in Xiao Xing'an Mountains as test object, and by the method of grids, the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in the gaps was continuously measured during growth season, and the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of the PPFD were analyzed by fundamental statistics and geostatistics methods. In the forest gaps, the high-value region of PPFD presented an obvious diurnal change, with the maximum PPFD appeared at 12:00 and in the northern part of the gaps. The mean monthly PPFD was the highest in June, and then decreased in the sequence of July, August, and September, with the largest coefficient of variation at different locations occurred in July and the medium variability in all the months. In different months, the intensity and the scale of PPFD spatial heterogeneity in the gaps differed, with the variation degree being the highest in June and the sill and proportion being the largest in July. The complex degree of the monthly PPFD patches also differed, with the maximum located in the northeast part of the gaps. The variation sequence of the mean monthly PPFD in understory and open ground was consistent with that in gap, and the mean monthly PPFD was the highest in open ground, medium in forest gap, and the lowest in understory.

[Growth process of Larix principis-rupprechtii stands with different density on south slope of Liupan Mountains].

By the method of sample trees stem analysis, this paper studied the growth process and diameter structure of 21-year-old Larix principis-rupprechtii plantations with the densities of 1200, 1500, and 2000 stems x hm(-2) in the head-water area on the southern slope of Liupan Mountain in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the growth status of L. principis-rupprechtii stands among the three densities when the stand age was less than 10 years. However, obvious differences were observed in the diameter and timber volume of individual trees and in the stand volume when the stand age was more than 10 years. The tree growth status in low-density stand was apparently better than that in medium- and high-density stands, but the height growth had no significant difference among the three densities. There was a significant difference in the skewness coefficient (Sk) of diameter distribution among the stands with different density, being higher (Sk = 0.338) in high-density stand than in medium-density stand (Sk = 0.072) and low-density stand (Sk = 0.015). The diameter distribution in high-density stand deviated from normal distribution, with a zenith tending to left, while that in medium- and low-density stands approached a normal distribution, with a more reasonable density structure. The kurtosis coefficient (K = 1.691) of medium-density stand was higher than that of high-density stand (K = 1.532) and low-density stand (K = 0.665), indicating a lower degree of polarization of tree growth in medium-density stand than in other two stands. The reasonable remaining density of 21-year-old L. principis-rupprechtii plantations was suggested to be 1200 stems x hm(-2).

[Spatiotemporal distribution pattern of soil temperature in forest gap of Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest in Xiao Xing'an Mountains].

By using grid and transect methods, measurement plots were established in forest gap of Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest in Xiao Xing'an Mountains, and soil surface thermometer and bended-tube thermometer were placed at each plot. The soil surface temperature, its maximum and minimum temperature, and the temperature at 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm soil depths were measured from May to September in 2006, aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of soil temperature in the forest gap in study area. The high-value region of soil surface temperature in forest gap was not at gap center, but had an apparent diurnal variation, with the sequence of northwestern, northern, and eastern sides of the gap. Within this high-value region, the maximum temperature from high to low was in the time order of 14:00, 12:00, 10:00 and 16:00. At any other time, the soil surface temperature in forest gap distributed evenly, with no high-value region appeared. The complexity degree and patch grades of spatial distribution of soil surface temperature were different in months, and their high-value regions were at the north-western and eastern sides of the gap, with an asymmetric distribution. The mean diurnal range of soil surface temperature was bigger in the tree's early and late growth periods (May and September) , but relatively smaller in fast growth period. As for the mean daily and monthly soil temperature at 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm depths, a bimodal behavior was observed in east-west direction. The mean daily temperature in north-south direction exhibited an unapparent single peak behavior, and the mean monthly temperature except in May presented a single peak variation pattern.

[Spatiotempaoral distribution patterns of photosynthetic photon flux density, air temperature, and relative air humidity in forest gap of Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest in Xi-ao Xing' an Mountains].

A continuous measurement of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), air temperature, and relative air humidity was made in the forest gap in primary Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forest in Xiao Xing' an Mountains to compare the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of the parameters. The diurnal maximum PPFD in the forest gap appeared between 11:00 and 13:00 on sunny and overcast days. On sunny days, the maximum PPFD during various time periods did not locate in fixed locations, the diurnal maximum PPFD occurred in the canopy edge of northern part of the gap; while on overcast days, it always occurred in the center of the gap. The mean monthly PPFD in the gap was the highest in June and the lowest in September, with the largest range observed in July. The maximum air temperature happened between 9:00 and 15:00 on sunny days, between 15:00 and 19:00 on overcast days, the locations were 8 m in the southern part of gap center both on sunny and overcast days. From 5:00 to 9:00, the air temperature at measured positions in the gap was higher on overcast days than on sunny days; but from 9:00 to 19:00, it was opposite. The mean monthly air temperature was the highest in June, and the lowest in September. The maximum relative humidity appeared between 5:00 and 9:00 on sunny and overcast days, and occurred in the canopy border of western part of the gap, with the relative air humidity on overcast days being always higher than that on sunny days. The mean monthly relative humidity was the highest in July, and the lowest in June. The heterogeneity of PPFD was higher on sunny days than on overcast days, but the heterogeneities of air temperature and relative humidity were not obvious. The maximum PPFD, air temperature, and relative humidity were not located in the same positions among different months during growing season. For mean monthly PPFD and air temperature, their variation gradient was higher in and around the center of gap; while for mean monthly relative humidity, it was higher in the edge of forest gap.

[Microclimatic characteristics of different size gaps in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forests].

By the help of HOBO automatic weather stations, the microclimatic characteristics of different size forest gaps in Pinus koraiensis-dominated broadleaved mixed forests in Xiaoxing' an Mountains were studied during growth season, with closed forest and bare ground as the control. The results showed that the diurnal variation of illumination, ground temperature, and air temperature of the gaps and the controls, as well as the change trend of the microclimatic factors during growth season, all presented a single peak curve. The diurnal variation pattern of relative humidity of the gaps and the control was high-low-high, being higher in early morning and evening and lower at noon. The relative humidity during growth season also presented a single peak curve, and was the highest for closed forest, followed by small, medium, and large forest gaps, and bare ground. The amount and the times of precipitation tended to decrease with increasing forest canopy, and the precipitation amount in large gaps was about 1.4 times as much as that in small gaps. During growth season, the maximum wind speed above bare ground, large, medium, and small gaps, and closed forest was 3.34, 2.97, 2.87, 2.41 and 1.84 m x s(-1), respectively.